Wael Shawky's Myth-Making: From Cabaret Crusades to Isles of the Blessed

Wael Shawky, an Egyptian artist celebrated for his exploration of historical narratives, delves into his diverse practice that encompasses film, painting, and sculpture. His fascination with the blend of myth and reality, as well as societies undergoing change, stems from his upbringing in Mecca amid Saudi Arabia's oil boom in the 1970s. Shawky's renowned film trilogy 'Cabaret Crusades' (2010–15) presents the Crusades through an Arab lens using marionettes. His recent exhibition, 'Isles of the Blessed,' at Lisson Gallery in New York (concluded January 13), marks his return to painting with vibrant hybrid creatures. The show features a video on the myth of Europa, paralleling modern leadership. Shawky's forthcoming film 'I Am Hymns of the New Temples' (2023), filmed in Pompeii, will debut there in February before moving to Milan. Additionally, he is contributing to the inaugural Islamic Arts Biennale in Jeddah with an installation inspired by a childhood Hajj memory. His works have been showcased at prestigious venues such as KW Institute, Serpentine Galleries, Tate Modern, MoMA PS1, and various biennials including Venice and Sharjah.